The Citizen

Album: Citizen (2015)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a man who travels through time, taking quantum leaps to different periods in history. It forms the concept of the album, whose other songs describe where he's been on his journey.

    Sherwood says he based the song on the opening scroll in the movie Star Wars, with the idea that one event can changed the course of history.
  • Chris Squire played bass on this track. It was his final recording, as he passed away in June 2015 not long after the session.

    Squire was Sherwood's mentor; Billy did stints in Yes as an engineer and also as a musician, contributing keyboards, bass and guitar to their 1997 album Open Your Eyes. When Squire was diagnosed with leukemia in early 2015, he had Sherwood to fill in for him on tour while he underwent treatment, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

    This track also includes contributions from another Yes associate: Tony Kaye, who played keyboards. Also contributing to the album are Patrick Moraz, Steve Hackett, Rick Wakeman and Geoff Downes.

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